Surgical truss



Nov. 17, 1925.

. F. SCHUTZE SURGICAL TRUSS Filed July 10. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 F. SCHUTZE SURGI CAL 'rauss Filed July 10. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Nov.- 17, 1925.

1 L L r p k Nov. 17, 1925. 1.562.064

F. SCHUTZE SURGI CAL TRUS 5 Filed July 10. 1924 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Nov. 17, 1925.

UNITED STATES FREDERICK SCHUT ZE, OF LONDON, ENG-LAND.

SURGICAL TRUSS.

Application filed July 10, 1924. Serial No. 725,184.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known. that I, FREDERICK SGHUTZE, subject of the King of Great Britain, residing at London, N. 7 England, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Surgical Trusses, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to surgical trusses, particularly for the treatment of hernia, and of that type comprising a belt or band carrying a suitable pad or pads and having a non-extensible back portion connected to the part which carries the pad or pads through the medium of extensible or elastic devices situated at one or both sides of the belt.

One object of thepresent invention is to provide an improved truss which will afford an effective and constant support of the ruptureand which, at the same time, will allow for the movements of the body with-- out becoming displaced thereby, besides being comfortable in use under all conditions.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved arrangementof springs or like elastic devices whereby a graduated or progressive support or pressure upon the hernia is afiorded, according to the extent to which the belt is tightened, so as to suit the degree of severityof the hernia, thus enabling one standard construction of appliance to be used for all cases of hernia whatever -may be the degree of severity, while at the same time ensuring the requisite degree of com-fortto the individual wearer.

Accordingto the invention, the improved truss comprises a belt or band the entire back portion of which is of a non-elastic character and is connected to the front portion carrying the pad or pads byrneans of a coiled tension spring or springs arranged atone. or both sides and which are housed or enclosed within a tubular part or sheath forming an extension of theback portion of the belt, the inner ends of the springs being anchored to the said back portion and the front end of the tubular part or sheath being left open to allow of the pad-carry ing part working therethrough.

The belt preferably comprises a plurality of springs or sets of springs adapted to be brought into action in succession as the beltis tightened in order successively to exert a direct pressure or pullupon the pad or pads. c

Figure 1 of the. accompanyingdrawings represents a perspective view of ajhernia in operation as for use with a mild case of hernia. v

Figure 1 is'a similar view to FigureB,

but shows two springsin operation.

Figure 5 shows. all three. springs in operation as would be required with a severe case of hernia.

Figure 6 is a front elevation of theunderstrap with the casing or cover shown. in section. v v

Figure 7 is a vertical section through the said under-strap. V

Figure 8 represents a transverse section through the said under-strap.

Figure 9 illustrates a modified arrange:- ment of the springs.

Figure 10 shows another modification wherein compression springs are employed.

Figure ll is a horizontalsectionthrough the modification illustrated in Figure 10.

Figure 12 shows 'a' further arrangement in which springs of. different strengths-are employed. 7

Figure 13 re-presents another form in which only a single spring is used,

Referring to the form shown in Figures 1 to 8, the improved truss comprises a main belt or band 1 made of leather or other non elastic material and including a stiffened and padded back o'rsaddle portion 2. The forward end of one side of the main belt 1 may be directly attached to the pad 3 by means of a stud orbutton, 4,.but the opposite side 5 of the said belt is of tubular form, with an open forward end,:forming a sheath.

This tubular end is preferablymade up of the main outer leather portion 1 an inner piece of soft fabric 6, and intermediate strip of leather 7, these three parts being stitched together at their upper and lower edges. The inner and outer'p'art's 1, 6, are continued forwards beyond the intermediate leather strip 7-. in the form of tongues or V flaps 8- connected' together. at top and bottom edges by means of short tapes 9. Detachably connected-to the pad 3, by aclasp. or-

fastener 20 of any suitable type, is a leather strap 10 passing through the open end of the tubular part between the outer and intermediate portions 1, 6, and its inner end is at tached, by a fabric loop 11, to a plate 12 which is connected to a similar plate 13, anchored to the main or back portion of the belt by a fabric loop 1%, through the medium of three coiled tension springs 15, 16, 17, the middle spring 16 being connected directly to both plates 12, 13, while the top and bottom springs 15,17 are connected directly to the plate 12 but are connected to the plate 13 through the medium of short lengths of flexible chain 18, 19, the chain 18 connecting the top spring being the longer.

As the belt is tightened by the strap and buckle 21 the middle spring 16 is first extended, as shown in Figure 3, the other springs 15, 17, remaining inoperative. This initial tension of the spring 16 gives to the pad a pressure or support such as would be required for hernia of a light nature. By further tightening the belt the slackness of the chain 19 is taken up and the spring 17 extendedas in Figure 4, so that two springs are now in action, giving a pressure to the pad suitable for hernia of ordinary severity. When the belt is still further tightened the third spring comes into action, as in Figure 5, giving a pressure suitable for severe cases of hernia.

It is obvious that any other kind of flexible connections such as tapes, cords or the like may be used instead of the chains 18, 19; also flexible connect-ions may be employed at both ends of the springs 15, 17, instead of at one end only; and, if desired, a set of two or more springs may be directly connected to give the initial tension, other springs or sets of springs being arranged to come into action in succession.

During the movements of the body the springs expand'and contract freely over the leather strip 7, while maintaining the requisite pull upon the pad.

The under strap 31 is of a spring extensible nature and comprises, as shown in Figures 6 to 8, a soft leather sheath or casing enclosing a fabric loop 32 coupled, by a coiled tension spring 33, to another loop 34 attached to the strap end 35 which is adapted to be secured by a buckle to a loop or slide 36 surrounding the main band. The upper loop 32 is suspended from a short strap 37 carrying a clasp or fastener 38 adapted to be engaged with a stud 39 on the pad 3.

In the modification shown in Figure 9, the top and bottom or delayed-action springs 15, 17, are connected to the plate 12 through the medium of wires or rods 22 rigidly attached to said plate and having heads 23 sliding or telescoping within the respective springs so as to be adapted to engage with end caps or abutment-s 24: secured to said springs, the rods or wires22 being of such lengths that the springs will be extended, in succession.

As shown in Figures 10 and 11, coiled compression springs 5, 16, 17 may be used instead of tension springs, these being arranged to be compressed by the bar 12 sliding on wires 25 carried between plates 13 attached to the belt, said springs being of different lengths so as to come into action in succession.

Or, as illustrated in Figure 12, two or more sets of springs 26, 27 or single springs, may be connected in series, the springs 26 being weaker than, the springs 27 so as to be initially extended until check chains or other flexible connections 28 between the plates 29, 30, are pulled tight, when the direct tension is transferred to the stronger set of springs, thus giving a graduated pres sure upon the pad.

If desired, both sides of the belt may contain springs instead of one side only.

In the event of a graduated action not being required, a single coiled spring may be used, as shown in Figure'13, where a coiled tension spring 40 is anchored, by a fabric loop 41 to the main portion of the belt adjacent its junction with the saddle or backpiece 2, and is attached, at its outer end, by

a fabric loop 42 to the strap 10 which is fastened to the pad.

Having fully described my invention, what I desire to claim and secure by Letters Patent is 1. A surgical truss comprising a belt hav ing a non-extensible back portion, a front portion carrying a pad, a plurality of springs connected between the back portion and the front portion, means for tightening the belt, and means whereby the springs come into action in succession as the belt is tightened in order successively to exert a direct pressure or pull upon the pad.

2. A surgical truss comprising a belt having a non-extensible back portion, a front portion carrying a pad, a plurality of coiled tension springs connected between the back portion and the front portion, and means for fastening and tightening the belt, said springs being connected so that they come into action in succession as the belt is tightened.

3. A surgical truss comprising a belt having a non-extensible back portion, a front portion carrying a pad, a plurality of coiled tension springs connected between the back portion and the front portion, and means for fastening and tightening the belt, certain of the said springs being connected directly between the back and front portions of the belt, while others are connected to at least one of these parts through the medium of flexible connections which cause these springs to come into action in succession after the directly-connected springs have been partially extended.

4. A surgical truss comprising a back portion, a tubular housing open at one end attached to the back portion, said housing comprising an outer strip of leather, an inner strip of soft material, and an intermediate strip of leather, all three strips being stitched together at their upper and lower edges, a coiled spring arranged within the tubular housing between the outer and intermediate leather strips, and attached to the back portion, and a front portion carrying a pad and adapted to be connected to the back portion through the medium of the spring.

5. A surgical truss comprising a non-elastic back portion, a tubular housing open at one end attached to the back portion, said housing comprising an outer strip of leather,

an inner str1p of soft material, and an intermediate strip of leather, all three strips being stitched together at their upper and lower edges, front and back flaps at the said open end of the tubular housing, said flaps being formed as forward continuations of the outer and inner strips forming the housing, transverse flexible connections joining said flaps together at their top and bottom edges, a coiled spring attached to the back portion and contained within the housing between the outer and intermediate leather strips, a front portion carrying a pad, a strap for connecting the front portion to said spring, one end of the strap being located within the housing, and a fastening for permitting of the adjustment of the length of the strap and located between the flaps at the open end of the housing.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand. I

FREDERICK SOHUTZE. 

